Wilmington, NC News

Archive for February, 2013

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — State Representative Ted Davis is rallying local leaders together to promote the film industry.

“Right now, all I am trying to do is get the information out and see who out there is interested to go into battle for the film industry,” says Davis.

In 2010, the state’s film tax incentives were increased from 15% to 25%, letting production companies keep more money in their pockets. Incentives also attracted major Hollywood films like “Iron man 3” to the Port City. When these tax incentives expire in 2015, the threat of losing business becomes very real.

“Productions everyday are doing comparative budgets,” says Wilmington Regional Film Commission Director Johnny Griffin. “Usually when productions call us they say we are looking at Wilmington, but we are also looking at two or three other states or cities or different countries. They factor all of those things into the equation so if you do not have the incentive, then that basically means the cost of doing business here goes up.”

The film caucus would allow 30 counties who know the economic impacts of the film industry to hopefully educate other counties that may not realize it’s importance. The film industry brought nearly 230 million dollars to North Carolina last year. A good enough reason Davis says to fight for incentives.

“The money that is being made and the business that it is bringing in…I do not have any question that I will have people who will support the economic impact from the mediums,” says Davis. “It is just whether or not they are willing to do it.”

Davis wrote and signed a letter that will be given to all of the House and Senate members Wednesday. He hopes to have word within a few weeks.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Lawmakers in the North Carolina Legislature soon will consider a bill that would designate state money to help pay private school tuition for some children.

House speaker Thom Tillis confirmed Monday that Republican lawmakers are drafting legislation that would provide state-paid private school scholarships intended for what he described as low-income or at-risk children. The Mecklenburg County Republican declined to say how much funding would be proposed for the initiative or where the money might come from in what is expected to be a tight 2014 budget.

Tillis spoke to kick off what he described as an “Education Week” listening tour of meetings with local school superintendents and teachers, groups that have historically resisted attempts to shift tax money from public education to private institutions.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

McCrory told The Associated Press Monday he signed off on what he called the “pragmatic compromise” unveiled earlier this month by his transportation secretary to issue licenses to young adults in the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama administration initiative grants valid federal work permits to qualified applicants brought to the United States without legal authorization when they were children.

McCrory declined to say what he thought of the proposed design for the licenses, which includes a bright pink stripe and the words “NO LAWFUL STATUS” in bold. But McCrory said the licenses must be clearly marked to prevent the bearer from accessing government services or registering to vote.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he asked President Barack Obama and some of his Cabinet questions about issues he’s concerned about during a visit to Washington – but didn’t always get the full answer he wanted.

McCrory attended his first National Governors Association meetings over the weekend and planned to come home Monday.

McCrory said in an interview he asked Obama during a meeting earlier Monday with other governors about prospects for expanding offshore energy exploration in the Atlantic. The governor said he was told the issue was being studied but didn’t get an answer about when the study would be complete.

McCrory also said he asked Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about operating waivers for Medicaid to save the state money, but waiver parameters sound narrow.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

North Carolina is transitioning to a new system of treating patients with mental illness. The new system means new rules, and thousands of patients like Cara Oathout are in jeopardy of losing services and funding that goes with it.